Separating ranging and data signals in a wireless positioning system

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating and transmitting ranging signals and data signals from transmitters in a wireless positioning system, and also for receiving and processing those signals at a mobile device. Different approaches are used, including separately transmitting the ranging signals and the data signals based on time, frequency, code, phase, or any combination thereof.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for transmitting ranging signals and data signals from one or more transmitters in a network of transmitters, the method comprising:
 generating a first ranging signal at a first transmitter; 
 generating a first data signal at the first transmitter, 
 wherein the first data signal includes information that specifies one or more atmospheric conditions measured at the first transmitter and information that specifies the location of the first transmitter; and 
 separately transmitting, from the first transmitter, the first ranging signal and the first data signal using (1) a different transmission time period for each signal, (2) a different frequency for each signal, (3) a different code for each signal, or (4) a different phase for each signal, 
 wherein the first ranging signal is transmitted using a first range of frequencies, and wherein the first data signal is transmitted using a second range of frequencies, and 
 wherein the first ranging signal and the first data signal are transmitted during overlapping time periods. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first ranging signal is transmitted using a first code, and wherein the first data signal is transmitted using a second code. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first ranging signal and the first data signal are transmitted at different power levels. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first ranging signal is transmitted using a first carrier wave, wherein the first data signal is transmitted using a second carrier wave, and wherein the first carrier wave and the second carrier wave are out of phase with respect to each other. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a size of the first range of frequencies is different than a size of the second range of frequencies. 
     
     
       6. A method for transmitting ranging signals and data signals from one or more transmitters in a network of transmitters, the method comprising:
 generating a first ranging signal at a first transmitter; 
 generating a first data signal at the first transmitter, 
 wherein the first data signal includes information that specifies one or more atmospheric conditions measured at the first transmitter and information that specifies the location of the first transmitter; and 
 separately transmitting, from the first transmitter, the first ranging signal and the first data signal using (1) a different transmission time period for each signal, (2) a different frequency for each signal, (3) a different code for each signal, or (4) a different phase for each signal, 
 wherein the first ranging signal is transmitted using a first code, and wherein the first data signal is transmitted using a second code. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first code and the second code are orthogonal to each other. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first ranging signal is transmitted using a first carrier wave, wherein the first data signal is transmitted using a second carrier wave, and wherein the first carrier wave and the second carrier wave are out of phase with respect to each other. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first ranging signal is transmitted during a first period of time, and wherein the first data signal is transmitted during a second period of time. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first ranging signal and the first data signal are transmitted at different power levels. 
     
     
       11. One or more non-transitory processor-readable media embodying program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement a method for transmitting ranging signals and data signals from one or more transmitters in a network of transmitters, the method comprising:
 generating a first ranging signal at a first transmitter; 
 generating a first data signal at the first transmitter, 
 wherein the first data signal includes information that specifies one or more atmospheric conditions measured at the first transmitter and information that specifies the location of the first transmitter; and 
 separately transmitting, from the first transmitter, the first ranging signal and the first data signal using (1) a different transmission time period for each signal, (2) a different frequency for each signal, (3) a different code for each signal, or (4) a different phase for each signal, 
 wherein the first ranging signal is transmitted using a first range of frequencies, and wherein the first data signal is transmitted using a second range of frequencies, and 
 wherein the first ranging signal and the first data signal are transmitted during overlapping time periods. 
 
     
     
       12. The one or more non-transitory processor-readable media of  claim 11 , wherein the first ranging signal is transmitted using a first code, and wherein the first data signal is transmitted using a second code. 
     
     
       13. The one or more non-transitory processor-readable media of  claim 11 , wherein the first ranging signal and the first data signal are transmitted at different power levels. 
     
     
       14. The one or more non-transitory processor-readable media of  claim 11 , wherein the first ranging signal is transmitted using a first carrier wave, wherein the first data signal is transmitted using a second carrier wave, and wherein the first carrier wave and the second carrier wave are out of phase with respect to each other. 
     
     
       15. The one or more non-transitory processor-readable media of  claim 11 , wherein a size of the first range of frequencies is different than a size of the second range of frequencies. 
     
     
       16. One or more non-transitory processor-readable media embodying program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement a method for transmitting ranging signals and data signals from one or more transmitters in a network of transmitters, the method comprising:
 generating a first ranging signal at a first transmitter; 
 generating a first data signal at the first transmitter, 
 wherein the first data signal includes information that specifies one or more atmospheric conditions measured at the first transmitter and information that specifies the location of the first transmitter; and 
 separately transmitting, from the first transmitter, the first ranging signal and the first data signal using (1) a different transmission time period for each signal, (2) a different frequency for each signal, (3) a different code for each signal, or (4) a different phase for each signal, 
 wherein the first ranging signal is transmitted using a first code, and wherein the first data signal is transmitted using a second code. 
 
     
     
       17. The one or more non-transitory processor-readable media of  claim 16 , wherein the first code and the second code are orthogonal to each other. 
     
     
       18. The one or more non-transitory processor-readable media of  claim 16 , wherein the first ranging signal is transmitted using a first carrier wave, wherein the first data signal is transmitted using a second carrier wave, and wherein the first carrier wave and the second carrier wave are out of phase with respect to each other. 
     
     
       19. The one or more non-transitory processor-readable media of  claim 16 , wherein the first ranging signal is transmitted during a first period of time, and wherein the first data signal is transmitted during a second period of time. 
     
     
       20. The one or more non-transitory processor-readable media of  claim 16 , wherein the first ranging signal and the first data signal are transmitted at different power levels.